Here's how to get your account verified on Twitter

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey's verified account.TwitterThat little blue checkmark next to a Twitter handle has long been held in high esteem.

Originally reserved for the likes of Tony Hawk, San Francisco 311, and NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center, the checkmark, which denotes a verified account, has become a status symbol — but it's been a mystery as to how exactly one attained the coveted blue check.

Starting today, Twitter is allowing anyone to apply for a verified account. While this doesn't mean it'll be easier to become verified — according to Twitter, it only approves "account types maintained by users in music, acting, fashion, government, politics, religion, journalism, media, sports, business, and other key interest areas" — the process will at least be more straightforward.

Here's how to apply:

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The Centers for Disease Control was one of the first accounts to be verified several years ago. Twitter said it was verified "in order to help citizens find authentic and accurate public health information straight from the source."

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Oprah was also among the first to get the checkmark.

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To start the process, log on to Twitter's support page: support.twitter.com.

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From there, click on "My account."

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Next, click on "Managing your account."

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Click on the tab that says "Verified accounts."

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From there, click "Request to verify an account."

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When I first went to apply, I was told I wasn't eligible yet ...

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... but about an hour later, I was able to begin the process.

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Twitter is clear about the characteristics your account should have in order to be considered. I realized I needed to add a phone number and website to my account before I applied.

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First, I had to enter my Twitter handle.

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If your handle represents a brand or company, you have the option to indicate that.

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Next, I was given the option to enter up to five sites to prove I was a real person. Twitter also gave me 500 characters to plead my case for being verified.

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I entered my Business Insider author page, my LinkedIn page and my Facebook page in the spaces provided, and then explained that I'm a reporter who writes about technology and startups — hopefully my account "is of public interest," which is one of Twitter's criteria.

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Twitter asked me to double check my information, then I clicked submit. Twitter assured me I'd hear from them by email about whether I'd been verified.

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Now I just have to wait to hear back — and hope that I receive the coveted blue checkmark.